Electrolytic apparatus



2 Sheets-Sheet I c. F. HOLMBOE ELECTROLYTIC APPARATUS Filed Sept. 4,1924

Aug. 4, 1925.

,To all whom it may concern:

Patented Aug. 4, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

cam. ranmux HOLMBOE. or ms, NEAR cnarsrmma, nonwav, assrenon or om:- nan '10 A/S DE NORDISKE rasamnaname-m, or cnms'rmma, nonwar.

-"ELIlilljllllli.OLY'JPIIIC APPARATUS.

Application filed September 4, 1924. Serial No. 785,754.

Be it known that I, CARL Fnnninx HOLM- nor:, a subject of the King of Norway, resi ding at Villa Solheia, Ris, near Chr st ania, Norway, have invented certain new and useful 'Improvements in Electrolytic Apparatus; and- 1 do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanyin drawings, and to letterspr figures of re erence marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to electrolytlcapparatus of the type in which diaphragms and electrodes are contained in a closed cell and has for its object an apparatus which solves the roblem of constructing electrolytic cells 0 very large dimensions which are reliable in operation, which produce a pure gas and at the same time require only areason'ablefloor area.

Cells constructed in accordance with the invention further possess the advantage that they donot 've ofi fumes of corrosive substances whic are unhealthful to the operators.

A further characteristic feature of this electrolytic ap aratusconsists in the provision of diap ragm bags which separate the electrodes of opposite polarity from one another and which at the lower end are provided with one or more comparatively small openings for the mixing of anolyte and catholyte.

Other characteristic features of the apparatus will appear from the following:

embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 is a vertical transverse section of a cell constructed in accordance with the invention.

g. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section of the cell shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section of the cell.

In the illustrated example the apparatus consists of a receptacle 1 adapted to contain the electrolyte and having at the uppeifedgea oveservinasaseatfor the cover w ich is descrl d below, said groove acting also as a hydraulic seal. The receptacle 1 13 provided with a cover 2 with downwardly curved edges so dimensioned as to fit into the hydraulic seal referred to eration will become concentrated an above. The cover may be electrically insulated from the receptacle, as shown in the drawing by means of insulating pieces 5. The cover is provided with slightly elliptical shaped bells 3 below which electrodes 6 are arranged which receive their supply of current through spindles secured to and, electrically insulated from the cover 2 (not shown in the drawing). The bells 3 are connected with a gaschannel 4.

Besides the electrodes 6 which are of the same polarity, electrodes 7 of opposite polarlty are provided which alternate with the electrodes 6. For the sake of simplicity the drawin illustrates an apparatus with five elect es in total, but this number of electrodes may be increased or diminished according to the size of the apparatus. In the cover are provided two gas outlets 16. 17 for the two gases. It is of advanta in this apparatus to make use of electrod tical ribs.

In order to prevent mixing of the evolvedgases, which would otherwisetake place on account of the great depth of electrodes, eachof the electrodes under the bells 3 is surrounded by a diaphragm bag 8, which at the top is securedto the bell 3 and at the lower end nearly completely closed so as to prevent the gas evolved. at the electrodes 7 from mixing with the gas evolved at the electrodes 6 and vice versa.

To maintain as far as possible a perfect ratio of weights in catalvte and anal the lower end of each diaphragm bag 15 gr}?- vided "with one or more openings 9. e bells 3 are slightly elliptical for the purpose of enablin a complete tightening of the diaphragm ag by means of themetal hooping 11 which is clamped on by the screw 12.

Assuming that the apparatus is used to decompose water and that the suppl .of current is so arranged that the electro es 7 constitute the ano e and the electrodes 6 constitute the cathode then the electrol surrounding the cathode electrodes 6 t at is inside 0 the diaphragm bag durin opmcrease in specific gravity so that, in the case of a NaOHelectrolyte, sodium hydrate will accumulate around the cathode: 2Na+2H50=2NaOH+H In the space surroundin the anode .electrodes 7'the reverse will e place, that is a dilution of the electrolyte: 40H: 2H,O+O

The specific equilibrium conditions of the electrolyte will thereby become destroyed with the consequence that' the heavier caustic soda lye of a higher concentration inside of the diaphragm bag will sink down and through the openings 9 and mix with the outside dilute and lighter electrolyte. This mixing is facilitated when the supply of replenishing liquid, for example distilled water, is so arranged that itis introduced into the 'catholyte as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. i

The distilled water is poured into the funnel 13 and flows into the channel l and spreads to the cathode chambers 3 whereby the level of liquid therein will rise and the catalyte will become forced out through the openlngs 9. In the case of an apparatus with two or more electrode bells the cover is so constructed that the bells 3 are connected to the common channel 4. whereby the apparatus has only one-gas outlet for the gas evolved at the electrodes 6, and one outlet for the gas evolving at the electrodes 7.

To further prevent mixing of the two gases a baflle plate 10 is arranged at the middle opening as shown in Fig. 2.

To determine the level of liquid in the receptacle 1 a float 14 is arranged. in a tube secured to the cover, the said float indicating the level of liquid on the scale 15,.

Cells of this construction have been built and have been in operation forjan extended period for the production of hydrogen and oxygen with a current capacity of several thousands of amperes and produce hydrogen gas of 100 per cent and oxygen of about 99.7 5 per cent. In the hydrogen produced in the apparatus it has not been possible to detect oxygen.

I claim:

1. Electrolytic apparatus comprising a closed cell, electrodes of opposite polarity arranged therein, and ,a diaphragm bag surroundin each of the electrodes of the same polarity, said bags being providedin their lower part with a relatively small opening through which the catholyte and anolyte are allowed to mix.

2. Electrolytic apparatus in accordance with claim 1 in which eachof the diaphragm bags is provided with a plurality of openings in its lower part.

3. Electrolytic apparatus in accordance with claim 1 having a plurality of electrodes with surrounding dia hragm bags arranged in'a single closed cel 4. Electrolytic apparatus in accordance with claim 1, provided with bells Ilocated over those electrodes that are within the diaphragm ba s to collect the gas evolved inside of the ags, said bells communicat ing with a common channel so as to allow the gas to escape through a single pipe.'

5. A closed electrolytic cell provided with gas collecting bells. and diaphragm bags suspended therefrom, said gas collecting bells having an elliptical transverse sectional sha 6. Electrolytic apparatus in accordance with claim 1 rovided with means for admitting'the liquid required for replenishing the electrolyte to the electrode space enclosed by a diaphragm bag. v f

7. Electrolytic apparatus in accordance -with claim 1 in which the cell is provided with a cover having a downward bent edge, and a. hydraulic seal cooperating with said downward bent edge.

In testimony that- I claim the foregoing as my invention, I have signed my name in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CARL FREDRIK HOLMBOE.

Witnesses MARGARET Boson, Emsn PAULSSON. 

